DALLAS, TX – “White pickleball paddles should be banned” is one of the common grievances pros openly share at tournaments.

Ever noticed why so many players have a Franklin, JOOLA or Paddletek that's predominantly black with a little bit of extra color thrown in there like purple, red, or blue? Because it’s easier to see the ball come off the paddle.

With colors like white, yellow, and green, it’s nearly impossible to see the green or yellow pickleball make contact with the paddle, which delays critical reaction time in the process.

 
This isn't just a safety issue because the inability to visually track the ball can result in higher injury rates from a fast-approaching ball (after all, pickleball is only getting faster).

It’s also a matter of fair competition. If Anna Leigh Waters can’t see the ball, she won’t be able to play her best. It's one of the reasons why she wears eye protection, too.

Major League Pickleball even made paddle colors an official rule in 2023. 

“There is growing concern that the reduced ability to visually pick up and track hit balls increases the likelihood of injury and will result in unfair competition,” MLP said in the safety update. 

MLP ruled that the design within the paddle face must make up less than 20% with an unregulated color. 

So, what are the bad colors for a pickleball paddle?

• - White/Gray (Pantone White/Cool Gray)
• - Yellow/Gold (Pantone 102/120)
• - Yellow/Green (Pantone 382/3965)
• - Neon Yellow/Neon Green (Pantone 803/802)

At the pro level, paddle colors clearly impact gameplay for better or worse. And there's notable frustration at the amateur level, too.

There are a lot of comments on this topic online.

“Neon yellow and green shirts should also be banned.”

Banning a color? Really?

At the rec level, it would be nearly impossible to enforce a specific color ban. 

But at the pro level, bans are completely fair game. And shouldn’t rec and amateur play be following in the footsteps of the pros? I think it should.

Time to ditch the white, yellow and green paddles to keep things clean, safe, and fair on the court.